This fact sheet was produced by the Queensland Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in 2009 and is an overview of the impact of introducing legumes (including mungbeans, Pulses, Chickpeas & Faba Beans, soybeans, navy beans, peanuts and a variety of peas) into a dairy system.

It discusses the anti-nutritional factors of legumes, such as trypsin inhibitors and tannins, and how they can affect livestock if they are digested without being treated. It also includes information on various methods that can be used to overcome the anti-nutritional factors.

Key sections include:

• Anti-nutritional factors and utilisation by ruminants;
• Processing;
• Simple explanations on how various legumes can be fed; and
• Feeding levels.

It also includes a table that outlines the major toxins and effective heat treatment of various legumes, how they can be fed and the harmful effect if they are fed untreated.

In conclusion, this fact sheet provides comprehensive information on legumes that can be used across the cattle industry as a whole.